Chairlift Talk

Matt Lipsey

Welcome to Chairlift Talk. We think Omnibar has the coolest fans on planet earth and we want to share their stories. Everyone has a different story and we thought we have just the right platform (blog) to make it work. If you would like to be feature next, tweet us! 
If you had 10 minutes on a chairlift with a stranger, what would you say...

Name: Matt Lipsey

Hometown: Kersey, PA

Instagram: @Matthias_Lipshitz

Tell Us About Yourself: I do a lot of running, but I'm really a life enthusiast. I love the way being alive makes me feel. The sun is my favorite drug. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Ghandi.  

Athlete or sport you like to follow?
All my friends are pretty inspirational.

What was your most recent adventure or weekend like?
I raced a 25k and then I drove up the opposite side of the valley to help a group of friends split wood for 4 hours. Gotta love working hard for that blissfully exhausted feeling. Great way to spend the first snowfall of the year.

As an outdoor enthusiast, what is the one place you keep going back to?
Lately, Devil's Den in Ridgway and Rothrock state forest.

Tell us about a time you were unprepared and what you would do differently next time?
I almost died crossing the Grand Canyon on that rim-to-rim-to-rim nonsense. Never ran more than 20 miles and I jumped in with my ultra friends for 46 (they decided to run an extra 2 from the campsite). My body was cramping and shutting down on the way back through. Guess I should have found out which fluids affected me in what way beforehand. But, you live and you learn. Besides, wouldn't have made for a good story had something not gone awry.

What is it about the outdoors that keep you and others going back?
The connections. Spiritually- within yourself, and externally- to others with the same passions. I love finding out what other people's' story is. I think john Muir said it best: "I'd rather be in the mountains thinking about God then stuck in a church thinking about the mountains."

What is on your adventure bucket list? Why?
I'm not sure I've got an actual list. I train and work hard so that I can grasp every opportunity that comes my way. Being ready for anything and never turning anything down. I'd definitely like to make it out to the cheese wheel race down that big hill in Europe before I kick it, though.

Blake Votilla

Welcome to Chairlift Talk. We think Omnibar has the coolest fans and customers on planet earth and we want to share their stories. Everyone has a different story and we thought we have just the right platform (blog) to make it work. Below is this weeks featured fan but let us know what you think on twitter or if you would like to be featured next! 
If you had 10 minutes on a chairlift with a stranger, what would you say...

Name: Blake Votilla

Hometown: Missoula, MT

Instagram: @Blakeskii

Bio: I work as a mountain guide for Rainier Mountaineering in the summer and ski guide at Downing Mountain Lodge in Hamilton, Montana when the snow flies. When not climbing mountains, I enjoy eating cookies, practicing yoga, and hot springing.

What was your most recent adventure or weekend like?
Yesterday, after a morning mountain bike ride up Leverch Canyon in Bozeman we drove to the foothills of the Tobacco Root Mountains for some adventure. This adventure started with shotgun shooting and beer drinking. When the clays and shells ran out we took off the flannels, set down the 20 gauge, and rigged up with chalk bags, harnesses, and climbing shoes. We didn't have a guidebook to the area but found some awesome granite cliffs to play on! Once our arms were too sore to hold on any longer the four of us loaded back into the truck and cruised the dirt roads with the evening sun behind us. The big sun lit up the meadows with a super cool golden glow that seemed to last for hours. What an awesome Montana Sunday!

What is the one place you keep going back to?
Montana

Tell us about a time you were unprepared and what you would do differently next time?
One time I was 10 hours into a backcountry ski tour and ran out of cookies. Never run out of good food! Now I keep Omnibars in my first aid kit.

What is it about the outdoors that keep you and others going back?
Adventure and exploration. I can show up to a place that I've been a dozen times and still find something new. Whether it be a little waterfall next to the trail I didn't notice, a new ski run, or meeting a new friend. Always something to see in the mountains!

What is on your adventure bucket list? Why?
To keep meeting cool people!

Justin Angle

Welcome to Chairlift Talk. We think Omnibar has the coolest fans and customers on planet earth and we want to share their stories. Everyone has a different story and we thought we have just the right platform (blog) to make it work. Below is this weeks featured fan but let us know what you think on twitter or if you would like to be featured next! 
If you had 10 minutes on a chairlift with a stranger, what would you say...

Name: Justin Angle

Hometown: Missoula, MT

Instagram: @angleman

Justin on top of Stuart Peak. Photo: Bill Huggins

Bio: Justin Angle has competed at the front end of ultramarathons for the last 12 years in races ranging from 50k to 100 miles. Career highlights include a 2007 age-group national championship at the 50-mile distance, a win and course record at the 2010 Plain 100 and a win at the 2014 Ghosts of Yellowstone 100. Justin enjoys the generous support and sponsorship of Patagonia, Altra Running and Omnibar and actively contributes to the outdoor industry through product development and testing, marketing consulting and online content development.

When not running, Justin is a marketing professor at the University of Montana School of Business Administration where he teaches Principles of Marketing and conducts research in consumer psychology.  

Athlete or sport you like to follow?
Trail Running

Justin in his blue running jacket. Photo: Tom Robertson

What was your most recent adventure like?
I recently shot down to Stanley, ID for a quick adventure in the Sawtooths. One of my closest friends just moved to Sun Valley and we decided we better link up for some mountain fun before the snow shuts down the trail running season. We found a fantastic 20 mile loop in the high country, complete with mountain lakes to fly fish and 10,000 foot peaks to scramble. Great fun with a great friend...and home in time to put my daughters to bed on Sunday.

As an outdoor enthusiast, what is the one place you keep going back to?
Mount Jumbo...a staple

Tell us about a time you were unprepared and what you would do differently next time.
Despite living in Seattle for 9 years and therefore developing an intimate familiarity with rain, I still struggle to clothe myself properly for the 35 degree, rainy day run. Typically once every autumn, I get caught out in a wet, slushy sufferfest that involves inoperable hands, burning toes and an afternoon of shivering. If I do it right, I also end up getting sick. You'd think I would have figured this pattern out by now.

What is it about the outdoors that keep you and others going back?
I think it's the unknown. Every day is different - different weather, different trail conditions, different sounds, different light, different flora and fauna, different energy levels, and on and on. I keep going back because that variety and exploration is exhilarating. It makes me feel alive to discover beauty in routine things.

What is on your adventure bucket list?
#TheRunToCanada....but some friends beat me to it. Seriously, the bucket list includes exploring more ranges of MT and doing what I can to connect my running aspirations to environmental causes.  

Justin running in the shadow of Mt. Rainier. Photo: John Stamstad

Inge Perkins

Welcome to Chairlift Talk. We think Omnibar has the coolest fans and customers on planet earth and we want to share their stories. Everyone has a different story and we thought we have just the right platform (blog) to make it work. Below is this weeks featured fan but let us know what you think on twitter or if you would like to be featured next! 
If you had 10 minutes on a chairlift with a stranger, what would you say...

Name: Inge Perkins

Hometown: Bozeman, MT

Instagram: @ingeluf

Bio: I spend as much time as possible climbing, skiing, and trail running and do my very best in all of the other things in my life like coaching, studying math, cooking, etc. My calendar is full of climbing trips I have planned in as many different places as possible.

What was your most recent adventure or weekend like?
Last week, I drove down to Lander for a week of sport climbing. On my way, I stopped in Yellowstone to explore a new trail, go for a beautiful run and returned to my car relieved I didn't run into any bears. While in Lander, I spent days relaxing in the morning sun and hiked to new areas, climbed the infamous "Strawberry Roan" Todd Skinner had bolted many years ago, and did the first ascent of a route near by. In the evenings, I spent my time trying to catch up on school work so I could return to Bozeman the next week somewhat ready for my midterms.

What is the one place you keep going back to?
Lander, Wyoming

Tell us about a time you were unprepared and what you would do differently next time?
I went to a party and did not have the right dancing shoes. From now on, I travel everywhere ready to dance just in case.

What is it about the outdoors that keep you and others going back?
The euphoric sensation it brings along with the addictive feelings of exhaustion, frustration, excitement, and focus inherent in the activities I do in the outdoors. Discovery is also key; the outdoors is endless and I can't stop thinking about what may be nestled in the next mountain range whether it be a sweet cliff or beautiful meadow.  

What is on your adventure bucket list?
Climb in Mexico again while helping develop and bolt some new areas. The climbing there is spectacular and endless and I really want to be a part of developing some incredible new crags for the world to visit and enjoy.

Anthony Krolczyk

Welcome to Chairlift Talk. We think Omnibar has the coolest fans and customers on planet earth and we want to share their stories. Everyone has a different story and we thought we have just the right platform (blog) to make it work. Below is our first featured fan but let us know what you think on twitter or if you would like to be a part of this!

Name: Anthony Krolczyk

Instagram: @krolzinger

Bio: Born and raised in the land of 10,000 lakes, I left for college at UM in the fall of 2009. I have two younger brothers and our parents had us skiing by the time we could walk. Only sport restriction growing up was no competitive hockey because Mom and Dad preferred to be skiing on the weekends rather than driving us around to hockey tournaments. After ski racing since 9th grade, I raced downhill for two years at UM before trading the camaraderie of the ski team for ski patrol at Montana Snowbowl. Did you know Arizona has a Snowbowl Ski Resort also? Fact.

The second I arrived in Missoula I made it my goal that I would find a way to stay in Montana. Couldn't be happier that dream became reality when I went to work for Omnibar right out of school. In addition to being part of the awesome crew at Omnibar, I'm the Director for the National Patrol at Snowbowl and greatly appreciate my time in these surrounding mountains.

Athlete or sport you like to follow?
Backcountry Snowmobiling. It's like skiing fresh pow with an engine strapped to your feet. Amazing.

What was your most recent adventure or weekend like?
Sushi night at the Jackson residence. Shit got crazy. Any dudes want to impress a group of ladies?Step 1: Attempt to make good homemade sushi. Seriously fun. 
Step 2: Good tunes and beverages of choice.
Party on.

As an outdoor enthusiast, what is the one place you keep going back to?
Teton Pass. Choteau, MT

Tell us about a time you were unprepared and what you would do differently next time?
February 2014 we were backcountry skiing in Lincoln, MT. We were up towards Copper Lake and accessed the area via sleds. It was pushing about 15 below (before windchill), and had snowed about 4 feet over the past 48 hours. The sun was out and we had an amazing day in some of the best snow I've ever seen in MT.

As the sun fell behind the mountains though, the temperature quickly dropped. I had already soaked through 2 pairs of gloves and had one pair of mittens remaining in my sled. One person in the group ran out of fuel halfway home but we had a spare gas can along. In the process, I got my mittens slightly damp as well. I was beginning to lose sensation in my hands and it was quickly becoming a serious issue. I would get off my sled and hit the seat as hard as I could in an attempt to get some additional blood flow back to my hands. We got back to the motel in Lincoln and I had to slowly bring back feeling in my hands by running warm water over them for a good 30+ minutes.

I'm now the person in the group with about two sets of liners, two sets of mittens, and two sets of gloves in my sled pack at any given time. I also pack spare socks in my sled. Moral of the story, take care of your hands and feet.

In your opinion, what is it about the outdoors that keep you and others going back?
Call it what you want but it's certainly a spiritual reset. It doesn't matter if it's a 30 minute hike from the house or an all day event. The solidarity and peacefulness is second to none.

What is on your adventure bucket list? Why?
I want to spend more time exploring the Swan range this winter. Best part about Montana is I live where I want to recreate. Many lifetimes of adventure await in this place.